ISSN 1392–1320 MATERIALS SCIENCE (MEDŽIAGOTYRA). Vol. 13, No. 2.

2007

The Influence of Temperature-Time Parameter of Welded Joints Thermal

Treatment on Strength-Related Characteristics of Chromium-Molybdenum
and Low-Alloy Manganese Steels

Vigantas KUMŠLYTIS∗, Algirdas Vaclovas VALIULIS, Olegas ČERNAŠĖJUS

Materials Science and Welding Department, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University,

Basanavičiaus 28, LT-10225, Vilnius, Lithuania
Received 10 November 2006; accepted 21 March 2007
The article deals with the analysis of the dependence of strength-related characteristics of welded joints from
chromium-molybdenum steel (ASTM A335 Grd. P5) and low-alloy manganese steel (S355J2G3 EN10025-2) upon the
parameters of heat treatment. Steel mechanical properties after post-weld heat treatment were analyzed. Chromium-
molybdenum (Cr – 5 %) steel and structural low-alloy manganese steel (Mn – 1.4 %) was selected as a target. The
steels of various classes widely applicable in oil industry were selected.
At the beginning, samples were welded applying the same process. When welded, all the samples were heat treated.
Tempering for each sample was performed by applying different temperature and exposure time. For analysis
systemization the parameter of temperature-time P was applied. It was calculated for each heat treatment mode. After
post-weld heat treatment each sample was tested subject to tensile and impact strength.
P-dependence of mechanical properties of each steel sample was examined. It was determined that tensile strength
and impact strength decreases by increasing P value. It showed the drop of mechanical properties value upon
considerable increase of tempering temperature or application of a very long exposure time.
Keywords: welded joints, temperature-time parameter, tempering, tensile strength, impact strength.

INTRODUCTION∗ tempering and showed the deleterious effects of 650 °C for

When welding or mechanically deforming of various
constructions the residual internal stresses can reduce the
reliability of structure or can provoke the structure’s
disintegration. In order to reduce of such internal stresses
influence, the most welded or deformed structure are cured
by heat treatment operation – tempering [1, 2]. Heat treat-
ment, once performed after welding, provides welded
joints with numerous positive properties such as softened
hardened areas of metal, increased ductility, positively
modified microstructures of heat treated areas of metal,
reduced internal stresses. Heat treatment improves corro-
sion resistance as well as stress-corrosion cracking
resistance under the influence of internal stresses. Heat
treatment of welded may also have some negative impacts
such as reduced tensile and impact strength, precipitation
hardening of certain steels which may cause fractures on
heat-exposed areas of metal. The cumulative effects of
time and temperature during post weld heat treatment have
a deleterious effect on normalized base metal properties
[2]. Some scientific works report that mechanical proper-
ties of various steels are strongly connected to their com-
plex microstructure obtained after heat treatment that are
generally performed in order to achieve a good hardness
and/or tensile strength with sufficient ductility [3, 4]. The
deterioration of mechanical properties caused by post weld
heat treatment in carbon steels has been well documented
in 1972, as has the association of those changes with time-
temperature parameters [5]. During the later eighties
studies by Konkol detailed the effects on carbon steels of
∗ properties of joints when thermal treatment parameters are
Corresponding author. Tel.: +370-687-77219; fax: +370-443-92974.
E-mail address: Vigantas.Kumslytis@nafta.lt (V. Kumšlytis)
just 5 hours to be a 7 °C shift in the transition temperature
[6]. As a matter of convenience, and because data seemed
to fit, the conventional Larson-Miller parameter (LMP
without dimension value) has been used to compare post
weld heat treatment cycles [5, 6]. This formula is shown as:
LMP = (T (°F) + 460)(C + log t ) ×10 −4 , (1)
where C equals 20 and t is the time held in hours at
temperature T.
For quantitative evaluation of the heat treatment
parameters, European Union normative documents [6]
provide temperature-time dimensionless parameter P
analogous to LMP parameter, which is calculated
according to the formula:
P = T (20 + lg t )× 10 −3 , (2)
where T is the thermal treatment temperature (Kelvin), t is
the time (hours) of exposure to thermal treatment
temperature.
When executing the tests required to certify welding
procedures for the particular steels (the tests were executed
at Mechanical Testing Laboratory of AB “Mažeikių
Nafta”), the changes of strength-related characteristics of
welded joints in response to varying parameters of the heat
treatment were noticed.
The aim of analysis is to determine the mechanical
properties dependence of chromium-molybdenum and low-
alloy manganese steel welded joints upon thermal
treatment parameters: i. e. the variation of tensile strength
and impact strength of joints by ranging of temperature
time parameter P and the variation of mechanical
different but P parameter is steady.

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MATERIALS (141 process LST EN 24063). BÖHLER EMK 8 electrode
wire was used, manufacturer – Böhler Schweßtechnik
Chromium-molybdenum steel (ASTM A335 Grd. P5)
Austria Gmbh. Wire type – EN 1668: G4Si1. Specimens
and low-alloy manganese steel (S355J2G3 EN10025-2)
from ASTM A335 P5 steel were welded in the same
were selected for the analysis [7, 8]. These different
process (141 LST EN 24063 process). Auxiliary wire type
alloyed structural steels were selected in order to determine
EN12070: W CrMo5 Si (BÖHLER EMK 5-IG electrode
the influence of heat treatment on the welded joints from
wire) was used.
differently graded steels. Structural low-alloy manganese
Chemical composition as well as mechanical
steels are mostly used for manufacture of units operated
properties of the weld metal is presented in Tables 3, 4.
within the range of – 40 °C to +475 °C temperature. Heat-
resistant chromium-molybdenum steels are used for
manufacture of structures operated at higher temperatures.
RESEARCH TECHNIQUE
The experimental research was performed on specimens All 6 specimens from S355J2G3 EN10025-2 steel and
made from a 12 mm thick sheet S355J2G3 EN10025-2 7 specimens from ASTM A335 P5 steel were welded. All
steel and a weldless hot-rolled pipe (∅ 219.1 × 12.7) steel the samples were welded at the same position (PF
ASTM A335 Grd. P5 (Tables 1 – 2). ISO6947, vertical upward weld). When welded, all the
specimens were heat treated under different regimes
Table 1. Chemical composition of the main component of the
specimens, manufacturer's data (Tables 5 and 6). Heat treatment modes for low-alloy
manganese steel samples were selected the same as in
Composition (mass), % WRC bulletin 481 in order to compare the results with the
Steel analysis performed by K. E. Orie and Ch. R. Roper [2].
grade Heat treatment modes for chromium-molybdenum steel
C Si Al Cr Mn Mo S P
samples were selected the ones commonly applied by
S355J2G3 “Mazeikiu nafta” in repair of piping of such steel.
0.18 0.26 0.032 0 1.39 0 0.014 0.021
EN 10025 The temperature-time parameters of each regime were
P5 ASTM calculated according to formula (2). After evaluating the
0.13 0.34 0 4.31 0.46 0.51 0.003 0.012 possible tolerances of postweld heat treatment temperature
A335
and time measures, the tolerance of parameter P should be
Table 2. Mechanical properties of the main component of the equal 0.026.
specimens, manufacturer's data After thermal treatment process, the analyses of
welded metal listed below were carried out:
Tensile Yield Elongation, • to check the quality of the weld the radiographic
Steel grade strength, Rm, strength, Re, A5,
X-rays analysis was used (level B) [9]. The analysis
N/mm2 N/mm2 %
was performed using X-ray generator RAPAN
S355J2G3
600 467 21
M200/100.
EN10025 • to check the tensile properties then cross-tensile test
P5 ASTM [10, 11] was used. Specimens were cut mechanically.
515 333 40
A335 3 specimens were cut out of each welded joint. The
tensile test was carried out in a MIRI-500K tensile
Table 3. Chemical composition of the weld metal, manufacturer's machine. The tolerances of cross-tensile test are 1 %.
data • strenght properties wereevaluated by impact strength
test [12, 13]. 3 specimens were cut out of each welded
Wire Composition (mass), % joint. Specimen type – KVWS 0/1 (Charpy pendulum
grade C Si Mn Cr Mo V-notch, weld-metal notch, notched surface parallel to
the specimens surface, notch over central area of
BÖHLER weld). The tolerances of impact strength test are 1 %.
0.10 1.0 1.7 0 0
EMK 8
BÖHLER
0.08 0.4 0.5 5.8 0.6 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
CM 5-IG
After the X-rays analysis we can state that all welded
Table 4. Mechanical properties of the weld metal, manufacturer's
joints conform to technical requirements. We didn’t detect
data any defects, influencing the results.
As shown in Fig. 1 the tensile strength decreases
Tensile Yield uniformly with the increase of parameter P. After the heat
Wire Elongation, Impact work
grade
strength strength
A5, % ISO-V KV, J treatment (tempering) of welded joints from steel
2 2
Rm, N/mm Re, N/mm S355J2G3, change of parameter P by one unit results the
BÖHLER 50 tensile strength decrease by ~18 N/mm2, that is approxi-
600 470 26 mately 3 %. Analyzing results of impact strength test of
EMK 8 (at – 40 °C)
steel S355J2G3 welded joints (Fig. 3) it is evident that the
BÖHLER 200
CM 5-IG
620 510 20
(at +20 °C) impact strength decreases almost linearly with the increase
of parameter P.
Specimens from S355J2G3 EN10025-2 steel were Analyzing the test results of the samples having equal
welded using gas shielded tungsten arc welding process or similar parameter P (samples 3 and 4) the attention

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Table 5. Heat treatment parameters of welded specimens from S355J2G3 EN10025-2 steel

Preheat rate
Specimen Equipment used for Temperature of heat Time of Cooling rate, Temperature-time
starting from
No. heat treatment treatment, °C (K) exposure, h °C/h parameter P
300 °C, °C/h
1 Electric furnace 150 620 (893) 1 150 17.86
2 Electric furnace 150 650 (923) 1 150 18.16
3 Electric furnace 150 620 (893) 16 150 18.94
4 Electric furnace 150 680 (953) 1 150 19.06
5 Electric furnace 150 650 (923) 16 150 19.57
6 Electric furnace 150 680 (953) 16 150 20.20

Table 6. Heat treatment parameters of welded specimens of specimens from ASTM A335 P5 steel

Preheat rate
Specimen Equipment used for Temperature of heat Time of Cooling rate, Temperature-time
starting from
No. heat treatment treatment, °C (K) exposure, h °C/h parameter P
300 °C,°C/h
1 Electric furnace 250 750 (1023.15) 5 150 21.17
2 Electric furnace 250 750 (1023.15) 3 150 20.95
3 Electric furnace 250 750 (1023.15) 8 150 21.38
4 Flexible elements 100 750 (1023.15) 1 200 20.46
5 Flexible elements 400 750 (1023.15) 2.5 200 20.87
6 Flexible elements 100 740 (1013.15) 2 200 20.56
7 Flexible elements 100 730 (1003.15) 3 200 20.54

– for the sample 4 temperature was T = 680 °C and

Tensile strength Rm,

540 exposure time t = 1 h.

Tensile test results for the steel P5 (Fig. 2) show that
520
the tensile strength decreases with the increase at P as well.
500
When P value change from 20.46 to 20.87 the change of a
N/mm2

480 value Rm compounds is ~40 N/mm2 per one unit of the

parameter P. The average rate of variation tensile strenght
of steel P5 on equal ~70 N/mm2 per unit P, that is
17.5 18 19 20 approximately 10%.
Fig. 1. The dependence of the tensile strength of welded joints
from S355J2G3 steel on the temperature-time parameter 260
P
240
Impact strength KV, J/cm2

660
Tensile strength Rm,

220
640
620 200
600
N/mm2

580 180

160
20.5 21 21.5 150
Temperature- time parameter P

Fig. 2. The dependence of the tensile strength of welded joints

from ASTM A335 P5 steel on the temperature-time 17.5 18 19 20
parameter P Temperature- time parameter P

should be paid that values of the tensile and impact Fig. 3. The dependence of the impact strength of welded joints
strength are similar. from S355J2G3 steel on the temperature-time parameter
However, the samples tempering temperatures and P
exposure time differ (Table 5): Steel P5 impact strength varies almost linearly with the
– for the sample 3 temperature was T = 620 °C and parameter P (Fig. 4). By increase of parameter P value in
exposure time t = 16 h; one unit, the impact strength decreases ~ 24 J/cm2.

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Impact strength KV, J/cm2
200
190
180
170
160
20.5 21
Temperature- time parameter P
Fig. 4. The dependence of the impact strength of welded joints
from ASTM A335 P5 steel on the temperature-time
parameter P
American scientists K. Orie and Ch. R. Roper [2]
investigated the behavior of low-alloy manganese steel
plate (ASTM A516 Grade 70) subjected to post weld heat
treatment.They found, that the cumulative effects of time
and temperature during post weld heat treatment have a
deleterious effect on base metal properties. Each increase
1.0 magnitude in parameter P above 17.5 in general lowers
tensile strength by approximately 2 %. Our results are bit
different because studied materials are different, but
quantitavely they are agreement with [2].
CONCLUSIONS
1. More intensive (at higher temperature or longer time
of exposure – than typically) heat treatment with the
increasing temperature-time parameter P has a negative
impact on strength-related characteristics of welded joints
from S355J2G3 EN10025-2 and ASTM A335 P5 steels.
Such heat treatment regime decreases the tensile and
impact strength of welded joints.
2. The values of strength characteristics of welded
joints are alike, when the temperature-time parameter P is
similar, though the temperature and time of exposure
differs.
3. For heat treatment of welded joint from S355J2G3
EN10025-2 steel, it is necessary to apply the processing
regime with the temperature-time parameter which would
not exceed 19. In case the value of the temperature-time
parameter is higher, the tensile strength of the heat treated
steel is smaller than the minimum one specified in the
standard. The latter is to be taken into account when pre-
calculating the strength of constructions.
4. When heat treatment (after welding) is applied to
chromium-molybdenum steels with 5 % chromium
content, the temperature-time parameter of selected heat
treatment must be in the interval 20.4 − 20.6. Such
particular value of the temperature-time parameter secure
the optimal strength-related characteristics of welded
joints.
REFERENCES
1. Bernshtein, M., Rahshtadt, A. Metals Science and Heat
Treatment of Metals. Manual Book. Moscow:
21.5
Mashinostroenije, 1991: 384 p. (in Russian).
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Heat Treatment and Notch Toughness on Welded Joints and
on Normalized Base- Metal Properties of A516 Steel. WRC
bulletin 481. New York Welding Research Council, Inc.
2003: 83 p.
3. Mebarki, N., Delagnes, D., Lamesle, P., Delmas, F.,
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Mechanical Properties of a 5 % Cr Tempered Martensitic
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Day Conference, 1972.
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